Arts

Oh My Guinness

When: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 - Monday, December 1, 2008

Where: Morris Museum

The Morris Museum’s recent $15 million expansion was designed especially to host the first-ever exhibit from the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection, which includes hundreds of rare mechanical musical instruments and automata from the late 1500s to the early twentieth century (such as this 1908 Reginaphone disc musical box and phonograph).

Arts

Gems of the Silent Screen

When: Saturday, March 15, 2008 - Saturday, June 28, 2008

Where: Unshredded Nostalgia

One-of-a kind exhibit of rarely seen silent movie posters from the early 1900's.

Arts

Feast Your Eyes: The unexpected beauty of vegetable gardens

When: Thursday, March 27, 2008 - Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Where: New Jersey Historical Society

This Smithsonian traveling exhibition traces the visual appeal of vegetable gardens across centuries, continents, and cultures.

Arts

Uncommon Clay

When: Sunday, April 6, 2008 - Sunday, June 15, 2008

Where: Hunterdon Museum of Art

This exhibition explores vessels and sculptural forms by NJ ceramic artists of high accomplishments and distinct personal styles. Participating artists include Bennett Bean, Ruth Borgenicht, Jim Jansma, Ka Kwong Hui, Taesik Song and Mikhail Zakin.

Arts

Close Encounters: The Art of Bonnie Berkowitz

When: Sunday, April 6, 2008 - Sunday, June 15, 2008

Where: Hunterdon Museum of Art

Prepare to be dazzled by fiber artist, Bonnie Berkowitz, and her richly embellished beaded and stitched objects (handmade books, garments, pillows, jewelry and puppets). More than beautiful, these meticulously crafted works of art also conceal poetic narratives in the form of accordion-folded "pages" that literally unfold before the viewer.

Arts

Icons

When: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - Saturday, May 31, 2008

Where: Somerset Art Association

In Shiv Durga, shown above, the mother figure is a nurturer—an archetype of strength and virtue. Similarly vibrant Indian mythical symbols resonate in the work of Tania Sen, who has a one-woman exhibit, “Icons,” in the Faculty Gallery at Somerset Art Association.

Arts

Memories of Ocean County

When: Saturday, April 19, 2008 - Saturday, August 2, 2008

Where: Unshredded Nostalgia

One of the fiinest collections of Ocean County memorabilia featuring maps, deeds, photos, postcards, posters, stock certificates, bottles, and more.

Food and Wine

Family Reach Foundation Wine Tasting & Art Exhibit

When: Thursday, May 15, 2008

Where: Endless Vine

Family Reach Foundation Wine Tasting & Art Exhibit Benefiting Children Fighting Cancer. Family Reach Foundation provides financial relief to families of pediatric cancer patients. Taste wines from around the world while enjoying the work of local artists including Garbis, who will donate 100% of sales from the evening to support the Family Reach cause. Admission includes wine tasting and appetizers.

Festival

Bordentown Street Fair

When: Friday, May 16, 2008 - Saturday, May 17, 2008

Where: Downtown Bordenton

The 31st annual Street Fair in historic Bordentown will feature more than 100 juried crafters along with Bordentown area merchants and services. The day will include family fun and entertainment. Food provided by local restaurants and nonprofit organizations. Plenty of free parking.  Call 609-298-7774 for more information.

Festival

The Great Pirate Invasion

When: Saturday, May 17, 2008

Where: Kip's Castle Park

Be transported back to the days of buried treasure, sword fights, and high seas drama. Dress the part and bring a picnic lunch to this treasure of an event featuring sing-a-longs, crafts tables, plus a scavenger hunt.

Music

Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess Concert Suite" and Thompson's "Frostiana"

When: Saturday, May 17, 2008

Where: Union County Performing Arts Center

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Benefits

The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program in Essex County

When: Saturday, May 17, 2008

Where: Greenwood Gardens

Enjoy a tour of one private garden and one public garden in Short Hills. Admire the private garden of Dr. & Mrs. George E. Staehle (83 Old Hollow Road), where an old quarry has been cleared and planted over the last forty years with a variety of shade-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, hostas, daylilies, geraniums, and primulas. At Greenwood Gardens (274 Old Short Hills Road), The Garden Conservancy is assisting in the restoration of this historic twenty-two-acre garden. Since the early twentieth century, Greenwood Gardens has been a private retreat with formal Italianate gardens graced with colorful tiles, rustic stone tea houses, mossy-pebbled walks, and vistas stretching for miles into the surrounding wooded hillsides. Though the beauty of Greenwood remains partially hidden beneath chipping stucco and overgrown vegetation, careful preservation work and imaginative horticulture is bringing the gardens back to life. Greenwood Gardens is also open by appointment from May to October; see www.greenwoodgardens.org.

Festival

Everything Jersey City Festival

When: Saturday, May 17, 2008

Where: Change Me

Family-friendly festival featuring three stages of live music and dance, children's rides and activities, festival food, and hundreds of premiere exhibitors including local artists, crafters and businesses.

Theater

Junie B. Jones

When: Sunday, May 18, 2008

Where: Union County Performing Arts Center

A rollicking, one-of-a-kind musical adventure based on Barbara Park's wildly popular books.

Music

Smithereens Benefit Concert

When: Friday, May 23, 2008

Where: Paper Mill Playhouse

Come meet The Smithereens for the "We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends" concert, sponsored by and benefiting the Joseph E. Enright Foundation, whose mission is "Health Through Education". See the Smithereens performing their greatest hists and Beatles classics. Your tax-deductible dollars will help support this worthy cause and at the same time help pave your own personal path to better health through the magic of live musical entertainment. Call 973-379-3636 or visit papermill.org for more information.

Arts

Perkins Center Members and Faculty Exhibition

When: Sunday, June 1, 2008 - Sunday, June 22, 2008

Where: Perkins Center for the Arts

Perkins Center’s Members and Faculty Exhibition highlights the accomplishment of the many talented individuals Perkins’ counts among its members, faculty and staff. The exhibition enables all committed artists to have the opportunity to exhibit their work. Perkins Center's most diverse art exhibit will feature paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, pottery, textiles, mixed media and more. Opening reception will be held Sunday, June 1, 1 to 4 p.m. Call 856-235-6488 for more information.

Arts

Picturing Princeton 1783: The Nation's Capital

When: Sunday, June 1, 2008 - Sunday, January 11, 2009

Where: Morven Museum and Garden

In celebration of the 225th anniversary of the historic gathering of Congress in Princeton, Morven Museum & Garden presents a special exhibition to assist its visitors in Picturing Princeton 1783. More than 100 paintings, documents, and artifacts are on view, including portraits of George and Martha Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and other leading figures of the day, including the painting at left, Washington at Nassau Hall by Charles Peale Polk lent by the Atwater Kent Museum. Docent-led tours begin at 15 minutes past the hour. Special opening reception June 1. Call 609-924-8144, ext. 106 or visit www.morven.org for more information.

Admission: $5 adults; $4 seniors/students, and includes an illustrated exhibition brochure. Free parking.

Theater

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

When: Sunday, June 1, 2008

Where: Union County Performing Arts Center

Music for kids with a rock 'n' roll heart!

Festival

From Roses to Rock Gardens

When: Friday, June 6, 2008 - Saturday, June 7, 2008

Where: Van Vleck House and Gardens

A self-guided tour of several outstanding private gardens in the Montclair area.

Festival

Moorestown Day

When: Saturday, June 7, 2008

Where: Main Street Moorestown

Moorestown springs into summer at Moorestown Day, a festival of food, entertainment and family fun hosted by The Moorestown Business Association (MBA). More than 100 vendors will line the town’s historic Main Street for the 32nd annual celebration featuring children’s activities, music and theater performances. This year’s sponsors are Brandywine Assisted Living, Cornerstone Bank and Beechwood Landscape Architecture and Construction. The festival is held on the same day as the 24th annual Scott Coffee Memorial Rotary 8K Run which attracts nearly 1,000 participants starting 8:30 am at the Moorestown Community House. Additional information: www.moorestown.com/mba.